Colombian President Warns 'I Will Return to Arms Once More' if US Launches an Attack.

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Growing Tensions and Allegations

Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.

A Strained Alliance

Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Firm Response

Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.

"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action against their nation.

Political and Financial Strains

American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.

Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.